Harvey H. Mead was born in 1833 in New York, the son of Enoch (born 1806 in New York) and Hannah (born 1807 in New York).

Between 1840 and 1838 Harvey’s family left New York and settled in Michigan; by 1850 Harvey was working as a farmer and living with his family in Bedford, Calhoun County. By 1860 Harvey may have been the same Henry Mead working as a teacher and living with one Stuart Rosegrant, a blacksmith in Wright, Ottawa County (Enoch was still living in Bedford.)
Harvey was married to New York native Mercy M. Sisson (d. 1858) on June 20, 1855 in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, and they had one child: Anson or Alson (b. 1856).

Harvey and his wife were probably living in Courtland, Kent County in 1856, when their son was born. She died two years later.

Harvey was 28 years old and possibly living in Ottawa County (or Kent County) when he enlisted in Company K on May 13, 1861. (He may have been related to Charles Mead, also from Ottawa County, who enlisted in Company E in 1864.)

Harvey was a Corporal when he was shot in the chest and killed in action August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run, and was presumably buried among the unknown soldiers removed from the battlefield and reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Enoch Mead was living in Battle Creek, Calhoun County in January of 1865 when he filed an application for a minor child dependent’s pension, which was granted (no. 6850). By 1870 Enoch and Hannah were living in Bedford, Calhoun County; also living with them was Anson Mead, probably Harvey’s son.